[Review] Rented by Barbara Morgenroth

ABOUT

Cressida Avery wants to spend the months before her junior year in college healing the wounds from her last disastrous relationship.

Everything changes when Garrison Light comes to town and buys a house. He’s handsome, wealthy and a “weekender” from the city. Weekenders look down on the locals and the resentment is mutual.

Something in him calls out to her. Garrison is not like the others, not by a long shot and, even knowing he’ll be gone by Labor Day, Cress still can’t fight her desire to be with him. But nothing about Garrison is what it appears to be on the surface.

Can Garrison help Cress get over Aaron? And will Cress need to get over Garrison?

Recommended for ages 18+ due to language and sexual situations.

I received an e-ARC via the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact in no shape or form affects my review. Except for the existence of the review itself. I received no compensation for this review in any way.This is my honest opinion of the work.

Omygod. What the hell was that even?!?

I'm so disappointed. I was really hoping to love this book, with the premise being something that I thought I would enjoy. Ugh.

This book made me uncomfortable from the very beginning. The way that Garrison and Cress spoke was so pretentious that I wanted to strangle somebody. Who says things like "I'm an archaeologist of human experience," or "I am ambivalent about weekenders." Seriously?? No one talks like that.

And of course, there was the classic line spoken, "You told me I'm different." What's wrong with the other girls? Different in what sense? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

The sex scene in this book was so uncomfortable. So. Uncomfortable. (SPOILER) Basically, to prove her wrong about her tragic sexual backstory, she took off her panties for him and with her permission, he put his finger into her and compared her taste to that of lemon, white wine and capers. (END SPOILER)

UNCOMFORTABLE.REALLY, REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE. Oh geez.

Also, I don't even know what the point of this story is. It didn't really go anywhere. The characters didn't go through any trials and tribulations or hardship to get there relationship going. It just happened. I would really like the time that I wasted on this book back, please.

Also, that last half a page of the book, seriously? WTF??? What the hell even happened? It seemed like the author just didn't know how to end the book properly or just gave up on the characters and story. There was no ease into the ending. It just came out of nowhere. I think they may have been looking to put some shocking, twist into the book, but it just turned out gimmicky, a little homophobic and confusing.

Garrison was just creepy with how automatically into Cress he was. He knows her for all about a couple weeks and he already deems that he has the permission to call her nicknames like Cressy. Cress was a strange bird and she seems to be the more believable character of the two, especially since the way Garrison spoke made him sound like he's middle aged rather than a twenty-something.

I just found this book really uncomfortable to read and seriously DO NOT RECOMMEND. Save yourselves. I would like the time that I spent on this book to be given back to me. Thanks.